Allergy Triggers Are Hidden Everywhere

March 09, 2016

Today, according to the EPA, over half of all homes and buildings in the US are considered "unhygienic." So, there is a real chance that indoor pollution is compromising your home. If you've dealt with allergies for a long time, you're probably familiar with the basics of allergy prevention by now, like how you shouldn't pet your friend's cat or hang around in dusty attics. Nonetheless, taking those measures is simply not enough. "Hidden allergens and irritants are a huge problem for people with allergies," says Hugh H. Windom, MD, a professor of immunology at the University of South Florida. To a person with serious allergies, the home can seem like a minefield sometimes. Here at Germinator, our home sanitizing and disinfecting experts care about you and your family's home. Below, we have compiled a list of some allergens you may not be noticing and some advice from the experts on how to avoid them.


• Vacuum cleaners: Did you know that vacuuming could be bad for some allergies? A regular vacuum is perfectly fine for sucking up simple things like dust and pet hair. The problem is that some allergens are so tiny that they can go right through the filter, rocketing out of the vacuum's exhaust. It turns out, using a low-efficiency vacuum could make things worse for your allergies! "You're turning your vacuum into an allergen dispersal device," says Jay M. Portnoy, MD, president of ACAAI. You are probably wondering, then, "what should I do?" Well, to stop vacuuming is out of the question. Why? Because a buildup of dust – which is full of allergens like dust mites – is exactly what an allergic person should be avoiding. Our recommendation? Use a vacuum with a High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter, which will work more efficiently to catch most allergens.

• Cleaning products: There are a lot of cleaning agents that should be avoided by people with allergies. Even though they are not allergens per se, cleaning agents can easily irritate the airways and trigger serious allergic symptoms. "When you're cleaning in an enclosed space, you must always have good ventilation," says Pramod S. Kelkar, MD, chair of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology's Cough Taskforce. Our recommendation? Never forget to keep your doors and windows open while cleaning!

• Humidity: As you probably know, moisture is crucial for mold growth. Dust mites also live happily in a moist environment. If you suffer from allergies, you should try to keep humidity levels at 40% or below. The problem is that when it's too dry, that isn't good for your allergies either! When the air is dry, the body's natural response is to moisturize it. In the process, your nasal passages generate excess mucus and make you stuffed up. So, if your nose is bothering you, you may think it's the dust in your heating vents causing those allergy symptoms during the fall and winter, but most of the time, it's just your body's response to dry air. Our recommendation? Get a hygrometer! It's a simple device that reads the humidity in your home. It also allows you to either humidify or dehumidify, depending on the moisture levels in your home.

Suffering from allergies and spending hours inside of your home every day means that it is essential for the area to be correctly sanitized. To achieve this, you must keep thoroughly clean surfaces in your home and make sure that the items in your home are completely allergen-free. Professional sanitizing and disinfecting measures will help prevent the proliferation of bacteria, viruses, and allergens. Here's how our patent-pending process can help.

Germinator's Patent-Pending Process

Germinator has developed a patent-pending process that provides a new generation of microbial protection for commercial businesses and residents.

Germinator's patent-pending methodology is the most unique and cost-effective means of providing enhanced antimicrobial protection for businesses and residences. The company first tests surfaces for ATP using a luminometer to detect light that can come from cellular activity. This measurement immediately provides the level of clean on a surface.

The next step is the application of Germinator's Genesis surface treatment. Genesis is a one-step cleaner and broad-spectrum sanitizer and disinfectant treatment that harnesses the power of hypochlorous acid (HOCl). Derived from naturally occurring minerals, Genesis not only eliminates odors at their source but kills a wide range of bacteria, including Staphylococcus aureus, MRSA, Salmonella enterica and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and viruses including norovirus, rotavirus, and adenovirus on hard, non-porous, environmental surfaces. It meets the Association of Official Agricultural Chemists (AOAC) germicidal spray standards for Hospital Grade Disinfection and is on the EPA's N List of products determined to meet the criteria for use against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. As a result, this treatment will eliminate bacteria and viruses that may reside in your environment without the use of harsh chemicals or fumes.

Following Genesis, Germinator applies its Shield, a water-based quaternary ammonium compound that imparts a durable bacteriostatic finish. It is EPA-registered as effective against mold, mildew, algae, and odor-causing bacteria. This application creates an invisible barrier that helps combat deterioration and discoloration and promotes freshness for up to three months.

The Genesis and Shield products are applied by using an electrostatic sprayer, which is the most efficient and effective means of delivering the products to the intended application sites. After Germinator's surface treatment and protectant services, the company retests ATP levels to help ensure the surfaces have achieved the intended results.

Our goal is to create a more comfortable environment for you, your family, and your co-workers. Call us today at 855-NO-GERMZ (664-3769) or fill out the form below to schedule a service with Germinator!